Lt Cdr. Bull (Starfleet Pilot AMA)
@catboycdr.bsky.social
Chief Shuttlecraft Officer on the USS Enterprise NCC 1701-E. Yes, I'm half Caitian. No, you can't touch my ears.
At a lecture on how the Age of Galactic Exploration changed earth culture.
Deeply fascinating how some stuff changed slowly, and other stuff suddenly.
Also the accounts of what happened after humanity made contact with the Isonu, who look EXACTLY like "anime" girls, are creepy af.
Deeply fascinating how some stuff changed slowly, and other stuff suddenly.
Also the accounts of what happened after humanity made contact with the Isonu, who look EXACTLY like "anime" girls, are creepy af.
August 31, 2025 at 8:06 AM
At a lecture on how the Age of Galactic Exploration changed earth culture.
Deeply fascinating how some stuff changed slowly, and other stuff suddenly.
Also the accounts of what happened after humanity made contact with the Isonu, who look EXACTLY like "anime" girls, are creepy af.
Deeply fascinating how some stuff changed slowly, and other stuff suddenly.
Also the accounts of what happened after humanity made contact with the Isonu, who look EXACTLY like "anime" girls, are creepy af.
Hundreds of years of technological advancement. And they still can't make a replicator that can do decent toast.
August 16, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Hundreds of years of technological advancement. And they still can't make a replicator that can do decent toast.
They opened up the ability for people to run custom, self-created programs on the Holodeck again on Friday.
Wanna guess how long that lasted?
Wanna guess how long that lasted?
July 28, 2025 at 9:01 AM
They opened up the ability for people to run custom, self-created programs on the Holodeck again on Friday.
Wanna guess how long that lasted?
Wanna guess how long that lasted?
Riker demanding I take him to a Guardian portal so he can go back in time and age verify.
This is why I told him to get a credit card last time we were on DS9. Post-money society is great until it suddenly isn't.
This is why I told him to get a credit card last time we were on DS9. Post-money society is great until it suddenly isn't.
July 25, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Riker demanding I take him to a Guardian portal so he can go back in time and age verify.
This is why I told him to get a credit card last time we were on DS9. Post-money society is great until it suddenly isn't.
This is why I told him to get a credit card last time we were on DS9. Post-money society is great until it suddenly isn't.
Riker's used up all the monthly Warhammer credits on the replicators again.
I know this because Geordi has emailed the captain complaining that he can't replicate some Tau he preordered and copied all the senior staff in.
Join Star Fleet! See the galaxy!
Etc.
I know this because Geordi has emailed the captain complaining that he can't replicate some Tau he preordered and copied all the senior staff in.
Join Star Fleet! See the galaxy!
Etc.
January 18, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Riker's used up all the monthly Warhammer credits on the replicators again.
I know this because Geordi has emailed the captain complaining that he can't replicate some Tau he preordered and copied all the senior staff in.
Join Star Fleet! See the galaxy!
Etc.
I know this because Geordi has emailed the captain complaining that he can't replicate some Tau he preordered and copied all the senior staff in.
Join Star Fleet! See the galaxy!
Etc.
There's a compulsory 45min e-learning module for bridge crew that we have to redo annually because of this incident.
Like if I’m Picard I’m just thinking of the HR situation right now. This is a ship with electricians. Wesley is probably on the bridge seeing this.
January 18, 2025 at 8:19 AM
There's a compulsory 45min e-learning module for bridge crew that we have to redo annually because of this incident.
Wetly
So how does one celebrate the holidays on a Cetacean vessel?
December 25, 2024 at 2:33 PM
Wetly
Oh no Gowron found the prosecco
December 25, 2024 at 2:32 PM
Oh no Gowron found the prosecco
Every year on this day the Captain starts banging on about something called a 'Dreamcast'.
We nod along politely and pretend we know what the hell he's talking about. Some history thing he's obsessed with.
We nod along politely and pretend we know what the hell he's talking about. Some history thing he's obsessed with.
September 9, 2024 at 3:16 PM
Every year on this day the Captain starts banging on about something called a 'Dreamcast'.
We nod along politely and pretend we know what the hell he's talking about. Some history thing he's obsessed with.
We nod along politely and pretend we know what the hell he's talking about. Some history thing he's obsessed with.
Reposted by Lt Cdr. Bull (Starfleet Pilot AMA)
Just realised I didn't do one of these when I joined here. So:
I am Lieutenant Commander Bull, Chief Shuttle Officer on the USS Enterprise (NCC 1701-E). I am half-Caitan on my mother's side.
AMA about serving on a ship in Star Fleet and, unless it breaks regs or security, I will try to answer.
I am Lieutenant Commander Bull, Chief Shuttle Officer on the USS Enterprise (NCC 1701-E). I am half-Caitan on my mother's side.
AMA about serving on a ship in Star Fleet and, unless it breaks regs or security, I will try to answer.
September 5, 2024 at 10:15 AM
Just realised I didn't do one of these when I joined here. So:
I am Lieutenant Commander Bull, Chief Shuttle Officer on the USS Enterprise (NCC 1701-E). I am half-Caitan on my mother's side.
AMA about serving on a ship in Star Fleet and, unless it breaks regs or security, I will try to answer.
I am Lieutenant Commander Bull, Chief Shuttle Officer on the USS Enterprise (NCC 1701-E). I am half-Caitan on my mother's side.
AMA about serving on a ship in Star Fleet and, unless it breaks regs or security, I will try to answer.
Okay. Bit of a long one.
I'm only half-Caitian, on my mother's side. She died when I was very young.
I grew up on Earth in a city called London. It's always been an intercultural city, but its never had a strong Caitian community. My dad was an Earth native but he tried his best. /1
I'm only half-Caitian, on my mother's side. She died when I was very young.
I grew up on Earth in a city called London. It's always been an intercultural city, but its never had a strong Caitian community. My dad was an Earth native but he tried his best. /1
In a post scarcity federation, what was your motivation to join Starfleet rather than pursue personal interests?
September 8, 2024 at 3:50 PM
Okay. Bit of a long one.
I'm only half-Caitian, on my mother's side. She died when I was very young.
I grew up on Earth in a city called London. It's always been an intercultural city, but its never had a strong Caitian community. My dad was an Earth native but he tried his best. /1
I'm only half-Caitian, on my mother's side. She died when I was very young.
I grew up on Earth in a city called London. It's always been an intercultural city, but its never had a strong Caitian community. My dad was an Earth native but he tried his best. /1
Basically. Yes.
Mine is currently 'Compere'
Mine is currently 'Compere'
Is a pilot tag like the handles that Naval aviators had in the United States Navy back in the 20th and 21st centuries?
What's your pilot tag?
What's your pilot tag?
September 5, 2024 at 8:10 PM
Basically. Yes.
Mine is currently 'Compere'
Mine is currently 'Compere'
Depends on the shuttle, but low warp for most of ours.
What is the actual top speed of a shuttle that obviously has nacelles? Is it: sublight for some reason, low warp, high warp, or depends on the nature of the tachyons being emitted by that sub space anomaly?
September 5, 2024 at 8:02 PM
Depends on the shuttle, but low warp for most of ours.
Mostly they run to their limit (time or quantity) based on Ship Time then pause and resync on return.
What happens to the replicator subscriptions if a ship is cut off from the rest of civilization for a while?
September 5, 2024 at 5:43 PM
Mostly they run to their limit (time or quantity) based on Ship Time then pause and resync on return.
Ship's time is resynchonized with Federation Standard Time (FST)
Individual service time is measured in Calculated Service Time (CST). That is FST +/- Anomaly Service Time (AST). i.e any time that passed, or didn't pass while the individual was involved in temporal anomalies during service.
Individual service time is measured in Calculated Service Time (CST). That is FST +/- Anomaly Service Time (AST). i.e any time that passed, or didn't pass while the individual was involved in temporal anomalies during service.
Related to that, how do scheduled things interact with time travel/other nonsense that can leave a ship's internal clocks with a month+ of time passed in excess of what the rest of the galaxy experiences?
September 5, 2024 at 5:41 PM
Ship's time is resynchonized with Federation Standard Time (FST)
Individual service time is measured in Calculated Service Time (CST). That is FST +/- Anomaly Service Time (AST). i.e any time that passed, or didn't pass while the individual was involved in temporal anomalies during service.
Individual service time is measured in Calculated Service Time (CST). That is FST +/- Anomaly Service Time (AST). i.e any time that passed, or didn't pass while the individual was involved in temporal anomalies during service.
It's entirely possible to live a good life on most Federation planets without ever having, or spending, currency.
Doesn't stop people offering additional goods and services in exchange for the same, or for a bit of gold-pressed latinum.
Star Fleet pays a small stipend of the latter while deployed.
Doesn't stop people offering additional goods and services in exchange for the same, or for a bit of gold-pressed latinum.
Star Fleet pays a small stipend of the latter while deployed.
How do subscriptions work in a society that has moved past money?
September 5, 2024 at 5:36 PM
It's entirely possible to live a good life on most Federation planets without ever having, or spending, currency.
Doesn't stop people offering additional goods and services in exchange for the same, or for a bit of gold-pressed latinum.
Star Fleet pays a small stipend of the latter while deployed.
Doesn't stop people offering additional goods and services in exchange for the same, or for a bit of gold-pressed latinum.
Star Fleet pays a small stipend of the latter while deployed.
Reposted by Lt Cdr. Bull (Starfleet Pilot AMA)
In my experience, what tends to happen is that a lot of people suddenly discover they're perfectly happy with simple food.
It's AMAZING how many junior officers who say they ABSOLUTELY CANNOT LIVE without Vulcan tapas options will suggest egg and chips when it's their turn to cook for everyone.
It's AMAZING how many junior officers who say they ABSOLUTELY CANNOT LIVE without Vulcan tapas options will suggest egg and chips when it's their turn to cook for everyone.
Getting assigned somewhere that requires regular cooking is probably an effective way to shut up those people that keep complaining that replicators don't taste like the real thing.
February 19, 2024 at 11:24 PM
In my experience, what tends to happen is that a lot of people suddenly discover they're perfectly happy with simple food.
It's AMAZING how many junior officers who say they ABSOLUTELY CANNOT LIVE without Vulcan tapas options will suggest egg and chips when it's their turn to cook for everyone.
It's AMAZING how many junior officers who say they ABSOLUTELY CANNOT LIVE without Vulcan tapas options will suggest egg and chips when it's their turn to cook for everyone.
Don't forget i'm taking AMA questions today.
Follow to see the replies (I'm quoting questions to provide answers)
Follow to see the replies (I'm quoting questions to provide answers)
Just realised I didn't do one of these when I joined here. So:
I am Lieutenant Commander Bull, Chief Shuttle Officer on the USS Enterprise (NCC 1701-E). I am half-Caitan on my mother's side.
AMA about serving on a ship in Star Fleet and, unless it breaks regs or security, I will try to answer.
I am Lieutenant Commander Bull, Chief Shuttle Officer on the USS Enterprise (NCC 1701-E). I am half-Caitan on my mother's side.
AMA about serving on a ship in Star Fleet and, unless it breaks regs or security, I will try to answer.
September 5, 2024 at 5:27 PM
Don't forget i'm taking AMA questions today.
Follow to see the replies (I'm quoting questions to provide answers)
Follow to see the replies (I'm quoting questions to provide answers)
Generic replicator patterns are free. But various brand package subscriptions are available.
Sometimes you crave Cadbury's Chocolate Buttons over 'Packet of Milk Chocolate Circles'
Most of us have at least one monthly replicator pattern subscription that covers some foods special to us.
Sometimes you crave Cadbury's Chocolate Buttons over 'Packet of Milk Chocolate Circles'
Most of us have at least one monthly replicator pattern subscription that covers some foods special to us.
Theres brands in Starfleet? Who knew?
September 5, 2024 at 5:21 PM
Generic replicator patterns are free. But various brand package subscriptions are available.
Sometimes you crave Cadbury's Chocolate Buttons over 'Packet of Milk Chocolate Circles'
Most of us have at least one monthly replicator pattern subscription that covers some foods special to us.
Sometimes you crave Cadbury's Chocolate Buttons over 'Packet of Milk Chocolate Circles'
Most of us have at least one monthly replicator pattern subscription that covers some foods special to us.
It doesn't. Replicators have default settings and you can do some limited customisation with common keywords.
Beyond that it's down to pattern subscription lists the ship (or individual) has, mapped to keyword phrases.
"Tea, Earl Grey Hot" on Enterprise gets you cup of bootleg Yorkshire Tea.
Beyond that it's down to pattern subscription lists the ship (or individual) has, mapped to keyword phrases.
"Tea, Earl Grey Hot" on Enterprise gets you cup of bootleg Yorkshire Tea.
This leads to another question: how well does the replicator deal with idiomatic differences in regional dialects. I.e. What happens when a British English speaker asks for a burger and chips directly after an American English speaker says the exact same words?
September 5, 2024 at 3:19 PM
It doesn't. Replicators have default settings and you can do some limited customisation with common keywords.
Beyond that it's down to pattern subscription lists the ship (or individual) has, mapped to keyword phrases.
"Tea, Earl Grey Hot" on Enterprise gets you cup of bootleg Yorkshire Tea.
Beyond that it's down to pattern subscription lists the ship (or individual) has, mapped to keyword phrases.
"Tea, Earl Grey Hot" on Enterprise gets you cup of bootleg Yorkshire Tea.
The Type 7s with long range mods are absolute unkillable workhorses. Great shuttles.
We have a couple of the short-lived Type 11 series on E. They're amazing to fly but very maintenance intensive.
The Captain's yacht is an absolute cow of a ship and Picard hates it as much as we hate flying it.
We have a couple of the short-lived Type 11 series on E. They're amazing to fly but very maintenance intensive.
The Captain's yacht is an absolute cow of a ship and Picard hates it as much as we hate flying it.
Which is your favourite of the sub-starship vessels to fly, maintain and use? Standard Shuttles? Captains yachts? Miscellaneous other? I don't know if you might have had much experience with Runabout type vessels? That would probably depend on your service history.
September 5, 2024 at 3:16 PM
The Type 7s with long range mods are absolute unkillable workhorses. Great shuttles.
We have a couple of the short-lived Type 11 series on E. They're amazing to fly but very maintenance intensive.
The Captain's yacht is an absolute cow of a ship and Picard hates it as much as we hate flying it.
We have a couple of the short-lived Type 11 series on E. They're amazing to fly but very maintenance intensive.
The Captain's yacht is an absolute cow of a ship and Picard hates it as much as we hate flying it.
One with Geordi where he inevitably fell in love with an ancient scientist. But having one of those is practically a right of passage for senior officers on the Enterprise.
One involving an old klingon warship jumped forward. That wasn't fun.
One I can't talk about.
One involving an old klingon warship jumped forward. That wasn't fun.
One I can't talk about.
Have you had any time-travel experiences you’re allowed to talk about? Is that kind of thing as common as the holos suggest?
September 5, 2024 at 3:12 PM
One with Geordi where he inevitably fell in love with an ancient scientist. But having one of those is practically a right of passage for senior officers on the Enterprise.
One involving an old klingon warship jumped forward. That wasn't fun.
One I can't talk about.
One involving an old klingon warship jumped forward. That wasn't fun.
One I can't talk about.
I commanded the original USS Kongo on a heritage tour. Classic constitution class.
Real bit of history. Felt very honoured.
Also it had a BOWLING ALLEY. Which was incredible. I honestly think they need to bring those back.
Real bit of history. Felt very honoured.
Also it had a BOWLING ALLEY. Which was incredible. I honestly think they need to bring those back.
What ship was it?
September 5, 2024 at 2:58 PM
I commanded the original USS Kongo on a heritage tour. Classic constitution class.
Real bit of history. Felt very honoured.
Also it had a BOWLING ALLEY. Which was incredible. I honestly think they need to bring those back.
Real bit of history. Felt very honoured.
Also it had a BOWLING ALLEY. Which was incredible. I honestly think they need to bring those back.
The Oberth modernisations are better than a lot of people credit. There's no real creature comforts though. Much more basic experience.
If you've served on a Galaxy or Sovereign, you're going to find it a VERY back-to-basics experience. And they are VERY cosy. Not a lot of crew space.
If you've served on a Galaxy or Sovereign, you're going to find it a VERY back-to-basics experience. And they are VERY cosy. Not a lot of crew space.
So, not sure if you've ever served on one but I never have and I'm scheduled to take a tour on the USS Lovelace soon. She's an Oberth class doing an observation mission on an industrial era pre-contact species.
Are Oberths as bad as so many folks say?
I asked our XO but he just started crying?
Are Oberths as bad as so many folks say?
I asked our XO but he just started crying?
September 5, 2024 at 2:31 PM
The Oberth modernisations are better than a lot of people credit. There's no real creature comforts though. Much more basic experience.
If you've served on a Galaxy or Sovereign, you're going to find it a VERY back-to-basics experience. And they are VERY cosy. Not a lot of crew space.
If you've served on a Galaxy or Sovereign, you're going to find it a VERY back-to-basics experience. And they are VERY cosy. Not a lot of crew space.
First Officer would be the next step up for me. I've been offered First Officer roles a couple of times but declined to apply.
You have to rely enjoy command deck stuff to want to be a First Officer then a Captain.
I generally don't. I like having my area of control, but not running the whole lot.
You have to rely enjoy command deck stuff to want to be a First Officer then a Captain.
I generally don't. I like having my area of control, but not running the whole lot.
@catboycdr.bsky.social What's the general career path look like after being 'head of shuttles' for a Historical or Flagship type ship? This assumes you don't want to go live on a Starbase and do shuttles there. Defiant-class command? Command track on a larger ship?
September 5, 2024 at 2:27 PM
First Officer would be the next step up for me. I've been offered First Officer roles a couple of times but declined to apply.
You have to rely enjoy command deck stuff to want to be a First Officer then a Captain.
I generally don't. I like having my area of control, but not running the whole lot.
You have to rely enjoy command deck stuff to want to be a First Officer then a Captain.
I generally don't. I like having my area of control, but not running the whole lot.